EFFECT OF EDIBLE COATING IN ASSAM LEMON (Citrus limon Burm.) DURING STORAGE
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Date
2023
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Abstract
The Northeast region of India is a rich treasure of different Citrus species. Assam lemon is one of the important Citrus species and it is indigenous to Assam. The main storage problems of lemon fruits are browning & shrinking of peel, loss of green colour, loss of firmness, and reduced juice content. Providing non-hazardous edible coating would permit the possibility to reach the distant markets in fresh form. Use of CMC (Carboxy Methyl Cellulose) as exterior coating along with Sodium Benzoate and Bees Wax coating can increase the shelf life of Assam Lemon. The present investigation was carried out in the Laboratory, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat during the year 2022 -2023 with the objectives to evaluate the effect of edible coating on the qualitative changes of Assam lemon during storage and to find out the suitable edible coating treatment for shelf life extension. The treatments includes combination of Carboxy Methyl Cellulose, propylene glycol, sodium benzoate viz., To (Control), T₁ (1% CMC + 2% Propylene Glycol), T₂ ( 3% CMC + 2% Propylene Glycol), T₃ (5% CMC + 2% Propylene Glycol), T₄ (1% CMC + 2% Propylene Glycol + Sodium Benzoate 500 ppm), T₅ (3% CMC + 2% Propylene Glycol + Sodium Benzoate 500 ppm), T₆ (5% CMC + 2% Propylene Glycol + Sodium Benzoate 500 ppm), T₇ (Bees wax 1%), T₈ (Bees wax 2%). The fruits were stored in corrugated fibre boxes. Physical, biochemical and sensory evaluation was done at every 5 days interval. Different observations recorded were physiological loss in weight (%), fruit weight (g), specific gravity, juice content (%), peel browning (%), days to colour change, TSS (0Brix), titrable acidity (%), TSS/acid ratio, reducing sugar (%), non-reducing sugar (%), total sugar(%), ascorbic acid (mg/100 ml ), pectin (%), chlorophyll (mg/g), colour, texture and microbial analysis (log cfu/ml).The highest juice content was recorded in T₅(39.59%),the highest TSS was recorded in T₅(6.270Brix), the highest specific gravity was observed in T₆(1.02), the highest titratable acidity was recorded in T₅(3.42%) on 25th day of storage. The results of the experiment revealed that the application of treatments had significant effect on various biochemical parameter of lemon fruit during storage. The treatment T₅ (3% CMC + 2% Propylene Glycol + Sodium Benzoate 500 ppm) showed better results followed by T₆ (5% CMC + 2% Propylene Glycol + Sodium Benzoate 500 ppm) during storage. T₅ treatment (3% CMC + 2% Propylene Glycol + Sodium Benzoate 500 ppm) was superior as an edible coating and retained better quality with extended storage life as compared to all other treatment.